CLAUDE AKINS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/20/1992 - HFSID 192251

CLAUDE AKINS
The skilled actor responds to a letter from a fan
Autograph Letter Signed: "Claude Akins" in black ink, 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1992 April 20. To Mr. Barch. In full: "First, I apologize for taking so long to answer, but, you did ask me a difficult question. I don't know if Coquetin is all right or if George Arliss is all right. I feel the answer is somewhere in between. An actor must feel emotions, but not fall into the trap of the emotions controlling him. If anger controlled you (as an actor) instead of you controlling it, there would be not only chaos, but also a lot of injuries to other performers. As to 'fine tuning' talent, my advice is to do as I was taught! To learn, study, understand, and quote Shakespeare. It is to me, the finest of written drama, and the most demanding in voice, range, diction, and delivery. Let them see 'Julius Caesar,' and watch Marlon Brando do the 'Cry Havoc' speech, and the Anthony's oration. Let them see 'Henry V' and watch Laurence Olivier do the 'Once More Into the Breach', and 'St Crispin's day', as well as the contemplative 'Upon the King' speech and, Good Luck to them all!!". A versatile character actor, Claude Akins (1918-1994) made a great villain, but could also adeptly occupy both sympathetic and comic roles. He began his stage career at age 5, continued with drama in high school, and joined acting stock companies while studying at Northwestern University. After serving in the Army Signal Corps during WWII, he landed a role on Broadway with Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton in The Rose Tattoo in 1951. He made his first film appearance in The Caine Mutiny (1954), following up this role with dozens more in movies such as Rio Bravo (1959), Inherit the Wind (1960), The Devil's Brigade (1968), The Night Stalker (1972), and Manhunt for Claude Dallas (1986). Featured in films for nearly 40 years, he also appeared frequently on TV, his jobs including the title role of Texas sheriff Lobo (1979-1981), as well as guest-starring appearances on Westerns such as Wagon Train sporadically from 1957 to 1961, The Big Valley in 1965, Gunsmoke sporadically from 1955 to 1972, and The Rifleman in 1958 and 1960. He also had guest spots on dramas such as The Twilight Zone in 1960 and 1962, and The Untouchables in 1960, 1962, and 1963. Normal mailing folds. Lightly creased. Tear at right edge mailing fold. Otherwise, fine condition.